The History of Cook Me Somethin’ Mister
The Beginning:
After a number of years installing gas grills and gas lights for a local Utility Company in the New Orleans metro area, Paul Preau began ADGAS Outdoor Cooking Products in 1977. Known for being an industry innovator, Preau started making adjustments to the gas grills to meet the needs of his clients. One of the first developments he incorporated was an extra gas outlet that provided access to hook-up portable gas cookers. This attachment evolved into a side burner on the gas grills – an innovation commonly found on many of today’s gas bbq’s. For years, Preau would take his grills and cast iron cookers to cookouts and shows where he would prepare a pot of jambalaya to show off his cooking equipment. The guests were always impressed with the cookers, but even more so with the Jambalaya he had made from scratch.
 The Jambalaya:
Joe Cahn, the original founder of the New Orleans School of Cooking and now “Comissioner of Tailgating,” originally taught Preau how to make delicious Jambalaya. In 2008, New Orleans’ Chef George Rhode encouraged Preau to come up with a dry mix. With Chef George’s guidance, Preau’s original recipe is being blended as Cook Me Somethin’ Mister Jambalaya and is packaged by Magic Seasoning Blends, owned by New Orleans Chef Paul Prudhomme. The blend was packaged and ready for retail in the spring of 2010. Yum, Yum! Come Get You Some!
The Preau Family:
Preau’s children, Kevin and Kristen, grew-up cooking with their dad and serving and eating countless bowls of Jambalaya! After completing college at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Kevin quickly joined the family business, furthering his expertise in the outdoor cooking industry. Kristen completed her coursework at Southern Miss and pursued a career in marketing and business development for New Orleans based businesses.
During her time at UNO Athletics, she coordinated a fundraiser following Hurricane Katrina called “Get New Orleans Cookin’ Again.” She traveled with her dad to numerous universities across the Southeast, serving Preau’s signature Jambalaya in return for donations to the Privateer Athletic Foundation. The campaign raised nearly $100,000 for UNO and opened the door for a new opportunity for the Preau family. Kristen has since re-joined the company as the “Jambalaya Girl” and is currently the president of Cook Me Something Mister LLC.
Present Day:
Today Paul, Kevin and Kristen work together in their office in New Orleans promoting the Jambalaya Mix for retail and food service. Paul’s wife, Karen, continues to show her support by attending tailgating events, cooking at demos and making bowls of the family’s Jambalaya for fans. Her company title is “Jambalaya Mom.” To this day, ADGAS Outdoor Cooking Products specializes in sales, service and installation of outdoor kitchens, outdoor cookers, gas grills and gas lights. The Jambalaya is sold along side with ADGAS Outdoor Cooking Products.
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